Sunderland Community Children & Young Peoples Mental Health Service Counsellor

Contract Type: Permanent

Role Type: Employment

Hours: Part time

Application deadline: Sunday, November 9, 2025 - 11:59

Based: Sunderland

Salary: £31,049 Pro Rata

Salary Type: Salary Scale

Location: Tyne and Wear

Role description: Project Support

Sunderland Counselling Service

Sunderland Community Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service (SCCYPMHS) Counsellor

Job Description

Reporting to: Senior Lead for Children and Young People

Location: A SCCYPHHS locality base within Sunderland.

Hours: 0.8 FTE (part time 4 days a week)

Or

0.6 FTE (part time 3 days a week)

The post holder will be entitled to 30 days annual leave at normal salary rate or pro rata for part time. In addition, entitlement to statutory public holidays will be given at normal salary rate on a pro rata basis.

Salary:

£31,049 per annum (pro rata)- as a qualified counsellor

£38,682 per annum (pro rata) – with BACP (or equivalent) accreditation

£40,823 per annum (pro rata) – with recognised Clinical Supervision qualification and BACP (or equivalent) accreditation

General Description:

The post holder will be employed on a permanent contract which will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months. All employees’ terms and conditions of employment are provided by Sunderland Counselling Service. This includes 30 days annual leave per year, pension scheme, access to a free and confidential employee assistance programme.

The salary for this post is dependent upon qualifications held by the successful candidate(s). We will offer £40,823 the equivalent of a mid-point of Band 6 Agenda for Change salary, to post holders who are BACP accredited (or equivalent) and counselling supervisor qualified. Successful candidates who are BACP accredited (or equivalent) only would be paid £38,682 the equivalent of a Band 6 agenda for change entry salary. We will also welcome applications from those working towards accreditation, in this instance staff will be paid £31,049 We will support all staff in achieving their accreditation status by paying accreditation fees, providing clinical supervision, additional line management support, etc. where required.

The post holder will be working in a Sunderland Community Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service (SCCYPMHS) locality base within Sunderland and in an outreach counselling role as part of a team of SCCYPMHS counsellors. The post holder will be engaged in the delivery and development of the counselling, supervision and training components of the service, and will work with children and young people whose lives are, or have been, affected by events to such a level that it impacts upon their emotional and mental well-being.

The post holder will be called upon to use a personal means of transport while engaged in the work of the service for which travel expenses will be available.

Main Responsibilities

The post holder will:

• Provide individual counselling to children and young people.
• Assess the needs of children and young people in relation to their emotional and mental well-being.
• Encourage and support children and young people using the service, to enable them to address and manage the issues and associated problems that are affecting their mental and emotional well-being.
• Assist in the provision of an appropriate service for reaching out to children and young people most at risk. This may include working in primary and secondary level education settings and outreach work within the City of Sunderland.
• Adopt a preventative approach in relation to mental health and emotional well being.
• Be responsible for the recruitment, management and provision of clinical supervision for a team of volunteer counsellors.
• Participate in team development, training and regular clinical supervision sessions.
• Attend all relevant team meetings.
• Be accountable for personal conduct and professional practice in relation to all relevant legislation, including Safeguarding Children procedures, and according to SCCYPMHS policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the further development and sustainability of the service.
• Work both effectively and creatively including some evening and weekend work.
• Contribute to the compilation of accurate and appropriate records of the work carried out with children and young people.
• Contribute to the provision of accurate statistical information regarding service activity and performance.
• Evaluate service effectiveness and make use of the relevant outcome measurement tools used by the service.
• Undertake any other duties as required within the spirit of the post.
  
  

Sunderland Counselling Service

Sunderland Community Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service (SCCYPMHS) Counsellor

Personal Specification

Essential:

Knowledge, qualifications & experience

• A minimum of two years experience of working with children and young people in a counselling setting.
• Qualified to Degree, MSc, MA, or Diploma level in Counselling.
• Competence in and possession of a recognised model of counselling based on a recognised theoretical orientation.
• Possession of a recognised Qualification in working therapeutically with children and young people.
• Sound knowledge of the legislative frameworks in relation to mental health and child protection.
• Willingness to contribute to and assist in the development of strategies that will make the service provision accessible to all children and young people through centre based and outreach work.
• The ability to engage and work with children and young people individually and in groups.
• Ability to make good use of the supervisory process.
• Ability to engage and work with children and young people, affording them the opportunity to influence and shape all aspects of the service and the way in which the service provision will be delivered.
• Registration with BACP or other relevant professional body.
• Commitment to working with multi-agency partnerships.
• Good information technology skills.
• Full Driving License.
  
  

Desirable:

• Possession of or showing evidence of working towards BACP accreditation or equivalent.
• General education to A Level Standard or equivalent.
• Counselling supervision qualification or eligibility and willingness to work towards the same.
• Sound knowledge of children and young people’s mental health issues.
• Familiarity with child and family support agencies.
• Knowledge of child attachment and child development.
• Experience of working in a school or educational setting.
• Experience of working with multi-agency partnerships.
• Experience of providing counselling supervision.
  
  

Essential:

Skills and behaviours

Ethical Behaviour

Working in accordance with the service standards of practice and BACP Ethical Framework, identifying and raising ethical concerns relevant to the organisation.

Ability to work along and as part of a team

Working in an unsupervised area and sharing information where appropriate, with the relevant personnel.

Good communication skills

Listening actively, asking questions, clarifying points and rephrasing others’ statements to ensure mutual understanding.

Commitment to good practice

Ability to challenge poor practice and identify and work to best practice standards.

Proactive in information gathering

Making best use of existing resources of information. Seeking information from multiple sources.

Ability to manage self

Handling other’s emotions without becoming personally involved in them. Taking responsibility for identifying and meeting own learning and development needs.

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